Why Good Tile Roofs Can Go Bad So Quickly.... Most building and homeowners think since most concrete tile have a fifty year or lifetime warranty that they don’t have to ever worry about their roofs.-- What usually happens is the underlayment (which typically is a felt type paper) bakes in our desert sun under the tile. It starts to curl and becomes brittle, so when rain water gets caught in these “troughs” it may find a tear, hole or opening and D-R-I-P "now you have a leak".. Most tile roofs are constructed with a batting system underneath, which allow the tiles to “hang” on the roof. These wood strips can collect and hold water, which could find its way through a nail hole. In most cases, in new construction just one layer of 30# felt slapped stapled and galvanized pipe penetrations are used. Most profes-sional roofing contractors will install two layers of a 40# felt, TG2 type moisture barrier or even the new Micro-E Therma-Sheet® GREEN insulating Underlayment by ESP LOW-E, fastened not stapled to the decking. Most reputable contractors will replace the old galvanized metal roof vents and t-tops with lead or aluminum which conforms to the tile shape. Leaks can also be from the flashings, or debris in valleys or poor original construction. Great care should be taken walking on tile roofs, cement/concrete tiles can crack, allowing water and UV rays to reach the felt paper.

A 15-18 year old typical Arizona concrete tile roof with one layer of 30# felt with 2” head lap. Felt is “baked” and curling, water has been getting below the tile through a crack, roof penetrations an poorly flashed wall, a leak will most likely occur. This can result in property damage and/or even worse... mold issues. Tile was removed and stacked, new multi-layer underlayment moisture barriers were installed and the original tile reinstalled.